Building People Up with Sandy Morales CEO Big Brother Big Sisters of Dane County

As a leader, looking to inspire people, building people up as essential, the carry you take, the compliments you give, the time you take to listen deeply. Notice the small things and ask deep questions. Are All aspects of building, building people up and inspiring people. As a leader today, I have a very special guests. No one knows the impact of or that building people up can have on a person or a community more than today's guests.

Sandy Miralis, San Sandy is the CEO of the big brothers, big sisters of Dane County as the premier mentoring organization, big brothers, big sisters of Dean County's mission is to provide children facing adversity, was strong and enduring, professionally supported one on one mentor relationships that change a child's lives for the better forever. Bbb s that's a hard one.

They turn out in each week to hear thought leadership from the area's best. So today I would like to get your input on your leadership qualities because you and I don't know each other all that well, and then your thoughts on the importance of building people up within your organization and that I'd finally like to get into big brothers big sisters and the impact it has on our communities youth. So let's start with more of the topic. What effects do you see that stem from building people up?

I think we talked pretty sure, you know, just like children and adults. How those curious.

And I'm sure we've all seen those movies or books. And, um, there was a law clerk, earnest cool who said, you know, like, what are these boys doing? You know, where are, where are the dads and what's, you know, what's going on? And, and so it was, it was his idea behind, you know, we need to get men to volunteer and be a role models for, for these children.

And so, um, you know, even back in that day, they knew that the answer to making sure that children were successful was to have a mentor and in a one on one mentor. So, um, it started over a hundred years ago with, with boys and an end, it evolved to also including, you know, girls as, as it progressed. And so today we're known as big brothers, big sisters.

But, um, you know, one of the reasons that I decided to, you know, move my career to big brothers big sisters is because of the impact that I saw. And, um, just the tremendous buildup that we can see in children. Um, a lot of the children that we serve, um, you know, come from households where maybe there's just a single parent or there's type a stressor that's happening in, in the home or there's some type of instability. It could be from housing to food. I'm just too emotional.

And so, um, when we pair kids up with mentors, caring adult mentors that we a screen and these are volunteers that want to make a difference in a child's life. I mean, we've seen relationships just flourish, um, from kids that are enrolled from, you know, six years old all the way until they graduate from high school, 18 and just the amount of confidence.

I think that's one of the things is just being able to see a child, uh, uh, you know, just be able to gain that trust with someone else that they can confide in and, um, you can just see them really flourish, uh, from personality to behaviors. Um, all, you know, that all can be translated to academics or just to relationships with other folks, with parents.

Um, we have a lot of kids that's, you know, as a parent you would understand, you tell your kids to do something and they won't do it, but then somebody else tells them to do it. And then for some reason they, you know, their attitude is different. And that's, and that's what we see with kids today. That and youth especially, um, you know, sometimes they need somebody else aside from their parents or if it's just one parent to be there and help guide them.

And so, um, it's just really wonderful, wonderful to see, you know, kids who maybe at one point face adversity to have someone there to help them with academics, just to help to go to their sporting events, to spend time with them, play board games, and be there for when they graduate or just through the tough times. It's a whole really good. So, so as you're talking through all that, I was thinking on the adult side, do you have a mentor as well or have you had mentors in your life?

Yeah, um, I would say I've had mentors on and off. Um, I look back at our program and I think, oh my gosh, like I wish I had had a more close mentor, like a big, like a big sister when I was, I was younger. Um, you know, my parents were both immigrants from Mexico, so they spent a lot of their time working and I, and I was an only child.

And so, um, luckily we lived in a neighborhood, we had neighbors and I was in girl scouts, but, um, but there were times where I was like, man, there were times in school, especially navigating school or academics where my parents couldn't really, they were just not familiar. They didn't know, um, that I could've really used a mentor.

You know, especially even in high school when you're trying to transition into college and trying to figure out like what major or ex like trying to figure out like, what do you want to be when you grew up? Um, I think one of the things that a lot of our kids grow up today, and if they don't have other role models, it's what they see on TV or it's a doctor or it's a lawyer. It's a, it's a police officer or a football player or basketball player, which are all, you know, possible.

But you know, we should also be exposing kids to other areas, you know, like a financial advisor and like so many other jobs that are available today. And so, um, so I think for me, when I was younger, I would have loved to have had more adult in my life that had those jobs or that I could be exposed to other career opportunities or just other interests.

Um, and as an adult, um, you know, I would, you know, I wouldn't say that wanting to go into nonprofit or a development director or a CEO was necessarily like, that's what I said when I wanted to grow up. I do want to, Hey, I'm going to run a nonprofit one day.

But, um, I would say that when I moved to Madison about, you know, all about 11 years ago and I started working at United Way and I started meeting a lot more people, um, and, and growing my network, um, you know, there were a couple people along the way that really pointed me in the right direction, I would say, um, including our, the predecessor of, uh, you know, before I was CEO. Um, you know, she kind of helped me steer myself and steer me in the right direction.

And when it came to nonprofit world, I think that, um, when you talk about the nonprofit world, you know, you, you think about like maybe the social services and the actual direct assistance you provide to folks. But, um, for me it was, it was, it was that and more and it was the fund development side. And so I actually got to see the operations and, um, by having a mentor to help me point point out like, these are the other areas of nonprofit that you can get involved in.

And that's when I started to really realize like that's the part that I really feel like I can thrive in and the actual relationship building and being able to communicate the message. My background's in marketing, so I found like the messaging piece to be very, um, comes naturally. But now it's actually the going out and spreading the word and actually talking about the work. And so, um, so I did have a couple mentors along the way that it really helped me mold my career in the nonprofit world.

And today, um, I can count on, you know, so many folks, including our board of directors that is always available to me, um, and, and meet and really, I mean that's,

If you know of a friend or colleague that could benefit from listening to some of Madison's top leaders, give us a share. Now, back to our guest.

So then my mom was at home with us, but having not gone to college and me being the first one, they didn't really guide me and saying, Hey, you should take this act prep course or anything of that nature. I did that all on. I didn't actually didn't do that. I just showed up to the test. None of it. I saw some friends and stuff take it. I was like, I wonder if I should do that right. But I wasn't like that. And does being a Grad wasn't a great student.

So for me, I showed up and took the test and know I'll never forget this. And actually I didn't score too bad for not having any prep work, but I was thinking about that. How did, I had a big brother, like I was the big brother and my other three siblings to teach you, hey, here's where I screwed up and where you, where you may want to, uh, do to take some different roads. I mean, your choice, but you're, I mean, and then they also got to witness me as well.

In fact, my brothers, I always joked with him, there wasn't much that they could have done wrong that I hadn't already done. So mom and dad were already very prepped for the renderings that we're going to come. But it was interesting as you said, I was like, yeah, that, I mean even as being the oldest son, having great parents and, and it just, you know, that those mentors were always, always important. And then you go through there, uh, career like then financial advising, right?

We provide our new advisers with mentors right out of the gates. Right. We just know where it's that important. So like you think about that and what we do in our professional world, and I know not every business, not every company is structured like ours where we give back like that and are compensated to do so.

But it's, it's just so crucial to find that mentorship, whether you're an adult or a child and particularly with the Trump children, being able to see someone that's possibly beyond their demographic at that timeframe, to be able to see beyond their current scope, to see that there is yes.

And one thing that we, how we talk about our program and the role that our mentors play is, you know, when we talk and we, when we talk about our kids, um, and even though I say they face adversity and sometimes they're, the odds are against them, but they have the potential. And I think that's one of the important things, um, when we talk about our kids is like they have the potential, you know, there's, there's a spark in them. Um, are the mentors role.

Our bigs role is simply just to make sure it's, it's kept lit and, and really defend that potential. And so we really try to position our kids as they already have it. You know, it's not like they're starting from the bottom or if starting from zero, they, they have the potential to do great things. It's in them. It's just simply the mentors role to keep it, to keep that spark alive.

Some of it's is stem from their, their environment. Um, and some of it stemmed from home. So again, if, if our, if our, some of our littles are in a home where they're facing homelessness or they're, they're in transition from home to home, I mean, that could definitely put a burden on, um, on, on a progression of our littles. Um, you know, success in life or it could be a strain in a, in a relationship, just trying to make sure that our littles are stable in, in, in their daily lives.

Um, and, um, you know, a lot of it is when we get to high school at a lot of it is our, our kids wanting to hang out with, um, you know, their friends and are they making good decisions in terms of who their friends are as well. Um, and some of it is unfortunately not in their control. We, uh, I don't know if you heard, but there was, um, in want a key there. Um, there was a woman that was shot by a man that had mental illness.

It was in the same apartment building and I think it happened in the last, I feel like four months or so. Um, and it was her son that he had to call nine one one. And, um, and, and basically, I mean, so the son was a little brother in our program, so, um, you know, so he had to see his witnesses. He had to call, um, you know, he had to call nine one one. She passed away. He now lives with, um, um, I believe in an another sibling.

And, um, but he has a big, he has a big couple actually, so he has both a, um, a couple of, so they're a big brother and a big sister. Um, and they've been there along the way. So they've been there to support him, um, in everything that he needs. Um, a lot of the big family. So like even their family has been there to support that little brother. Um, so it's unfortunately because that is something that happened to him. Um, but we are very, I mean, that's part of the program.

In terms of like that you have a support system. Not only do you have that you media support system of the relationship that you formed with, uh, with, um, this big couple, so, uh, to folks, but also like their extended family. Like they're really feeling for him and they're really trying to support him right. Right now. So, um, so it can be a lot of things.

Um, we also have kids where, um, you know, where maybe it's not necessarily, there's so much instability happening, but sometimes their parents work a lot. Sometimes they're holding, um, wha, you know, two, three jobs. And so, you know, they're trying to make ends meet. And so our kids, you know, sometimes they go to school and they come home and then they're watching TV or they're taking care of siblings.

Um, so where, you know, where's their exposure to, what else has happened, you know, what's possible for them. And so sometimes our kids just have really big response adult responsibilities and um, while they're, while their parents are working. And so, um, so we also have to remember that, you know, those kids, kids that have those kinds of responsibilities are or have adult responsibilities are also in need of someone to be there for them.

So those are just some of the cases, I don't want it put it all necessarily to say it's, you know, it's bad kids, but sometimes it's kids just have to face responsibilities that they're not necessarily equipped with. And so they need somebody to rely on to just to be themselves. Yeah.

They feel like they can spend, sounds like one of my advisors that does, cause I've been able to hang with him and his little, and it was just showing him and allowing him to have fun and to be a kid and then experience things that he's not able to or wouldn't be able to experience on a, on a normal day to day basis in his life. Like going out on a vineyard and driving a tractor, going in a woodshop and like just doing certain things that just would be out of the norm for that child.

So the parents are asking for help. So the parents do want what's best for their kids. It's just sometimes they don't know how to provide it. Um, you know, they themselves weren't hot, you know, or when they were younger me, they didn't necessarily have mentors themselves. So, so we are, um, they're going on based off what they know. And so they want the best for kids. Sometimes they just don't know how to provide that. You're right. Yeah.

I'm on our family side, so families do call us. So we get about, um, well right now we have about 250 kids that are waiting to be matched with a mentor to be introduced to a big, um, and so we don't have a shortage of kids. Um, in terms of volunteers, we do have to do more outreach, um, to recruit a bigger pool of volunteers. So we need a pool of kids. But we also, you know, we have a pool of kids, but we also need a pool of volunteers. Um, and our volunteers can be any age.

Um, we have two programs are school based Mentoring Program where volunteers actually mentor at school. And so we have 10 schools that we partner with where volunteers can go in and mentor kids, um, in elementary or middle school, either during the lunch hour or a right after school, which would be, which would mean maybe leaving a little early from work.

Um, and then we have our regular community based program, which most people are familiar with where volunteers are meeting with their little brother or little sister, um, just based on their availability and their schedule. So, and anybody can be a big a volunteer. We w you know, we have, um, we have bigs that are in college, you know, so they are students and they are typically the ones that volunteer in the schools.

But we also have retired folks and we, oh, we, we like act folks that are actually retired or just have more, we like to say we, they have more life experience. And so in the end they're rooted in the community. And that's one of the things that, um, that we really need time and possibly more time. Yes. Yes. Um, but that's one of the things we really want folks that are rooted in the community, that are, that are planning on staying in the Dane County area.

Um, as a volunteer, we do ask for a two year commitment. And I know for some folks it can sound really daunting, but if you're planning on staying in Madison, um, via family here, you know, if, if this is what you call home, you know, that should not be a barrier by any means.

And you know, I always, I always talk about how other relationships, like it could be like personal relationships or, um, if you think about it, when you, when you meet somebody and you know, it takes about a year just to get to know them and then, um, the second year you're like, yeah, I can do this. You know, like I said, if your boyfriend or girlfriend or, or whatnot, um, you know, the first year you're just getting to know each other.

But then before you know it, you're like in year two and you're thriving. And then before you know it, you know you're getting married. So if you look back at some of your relationships and you know, it takes about a couple of years to form and yeah, that means am I right away? But you know, I guess average.

But, um, but the reason we do ask for a two year commitment is a big brothers, big sisters of America did actually do some research behind, you know, how long does it take for a mentoring from enter to make a difference in a child's life? And one of the things that we found in this research is, uh, kids that are mentored in a program for two years or more are more likely to go on to college, are more likely to graduate, um, but also have higher incomes and more likely to buy a home.

And so, I mean, so these are just some of the things anecdotally that we found, um, as well from interviewing bigs that are now older adults. And so we said, well, why would we want this for all our kids were at least a possibility for all our kids is to have this kind of success. So why not ask for a two year commitment from our volunteers?

And so, um, you know, every year, uh, we have about 700 bigs in our program, so we figured we're doing something right if we're able to still recruit, um, bigs that are not afraid of what is really, you know, a commitment that they've done in other relationships. Um, but also, um, just the fact that it allows us to make really good quality relationships. I mean, the average relationship of art between our bigs in the little is about almost four years.

So, um, and some of our relationships alas longer, I mean, some of our, our relationship started when a child is six years old, which is when we, the earliest we can match a child all the way through 18 graduation. And so it was not ideal in a perfect world utopian type sense. Oh, Utopia for sure. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, regardless of, I mean, we want to find the right or the right match.

I mean, and so that's the other part of our matching process is that, um, when volunteers say, you know, I want to do this, um, I'm ready, you know, sign me up. Basically a, they do have to go through an application. So you have to fill out an application, you have to go through a background check. Um, we have to do reference checking. So we have to follow up with about three people that can really talk about your character. I've been in your home, um, yeah, that had been in your home.

And we ask questions. We do have to interview the volunteer too. So they go through about an hour and a half in depth volunteer as in depth interview as well.

Um, and that person, our match support specialist, that's what makes us really different than any other organization is that we have dedicated folks that are there to be a coach and essentially mentor the Mentor on how to deal with some of these situations that we talked about earlier when it comes to trauma or, um, rolling. Yeah. Any of these other, um, you know, uh, problems that might arise where the volunteers just like, how do I deal with this?

So, um, and then on the family side, we interview kids and families. So we actually go to their home and we go through a similar process, um, with, with the child. First of all, the child wants, has to want a big brother or a big sister. So it's not that the parent can say like, my child needs a big and four. Yeah. Nobody can be forced into that, but, um, where it has, you know, word has, has spread and kids have seen their friends with bigs. Yeah. And, and so they're were like, I want one too.

Um, or, you know, I want what I, what they, what they have, which is a friend, you know, somebody else to hang out with. And so, um, and parents, I mean, but the parents are usually the first ones that call us. And so we'd go through the same interview process. Um, but both parents and volunteers, um, it's important that they be honest with us in terms of what they're looking for in each party.

So for example, um, uh, a mom or dad could say, you know, I want a, I want my son to have a male role model. So I want them to be, you know, they need to like basketball. They need to like watching football or, um, they need to be into science or outdoors or pets. So, you know, that's important for our parents to tell us, you know, what exactly that you're looking for. I mean many times we do tend to have more boys that are waiting so many times we, that's what parents want.

So if you have children and you're looking for something where you want to expose your kids to as well, um, the whole family can mentor a child too. And that's where we really positioned boys to, um, make sure that they are matched sooner than later is we do have that flexibility for boys to be matched with a big family or a big couple. Um, or history. That'd be huge. There are a couple of things. Yeah. Yeah.

And so, so that's one thing. Um, and the other big thing is the geographical location. So it is very important that driving distance is, is not a barrier. So we don't want to match, um, for example, a child that lives in Sun Prairie to, um, you know, a volunteer that lives in Stoughton, like that's just not going to work. So we do definitely look at geographic location as important.

There are times where you have been through an experience that they may not have been through yet or that they're communicating in a way that's actually interfering with the relationship that they're trying to fill. Right? And so having those lessons, those were all growing leaders is just really, really important. So I love to hear you say that in a jug just came to mind for me as I was like, I do mentor the Mentor as well, but just in a business world versus,

So it's not just a volunteer but the parent and the child to make sure like, yeah, we're all in this, you know, we still want to do this in the relationship is going well and we really want a form. Um, even though we talk about the big and the little like they're forming the relationship, but it's very important that the parent and the volunteer also have a relationship because a lot of times they're discussing things in terms of like, how are things going? And I'm seeing this behavior.

Sometimes the parent will be like, can you talk to him or her? Can you talk about something that happened in school? Like he or she won't talk to me about it, like maybe they'll talk to you. And so that happens a lot. So it's very important that, um, there's a lot of behind the scenes stuff that's going on is what is what I'm saying.

So being able to form a relationship with a bigger, uh, er, with a little brother or little sister and their family just gives them a real opportunity to see, you know, what are some of the, what are, what is happening here in Dane County? What, what is, what are the things that are affecting youth here locally? What are some of the other issues that are affecting families? Um, I think it definitely bridges, um, maybe a divide.

Um, you know, we always talk about Madison being a tale of two cities, right? So you can be very, very successful or you can live in poverty or, or not be as successful as others. So I think this gives our, um, our program really gives the volunteer an opportunity to maybe meet people that they wouldn't have, they would have asked, not met, you know, just give in their social circles or who they hang out with. Um, uh, but I think our program really allows different families to come together.

You know, if you think about, um, you know, the, the example I gave about the, um, the mom that was, that was shot and died and how, you know, you have the little brother's family and now the big couples family, like they're one, you know, they are one, one family where they are all working together and trying to help support each other.

So I think that's one of the other behind the scenes is that you see some of this background work that's happening is that you are seeing different families, you know, starting to come together. And, um, I think that's also very important.

There's another way inside, outside of their current life as being a huge predictor of their success.

But that, um, they go on to seek other mentors. We're hopefully pay it forward and pay it forward. I mean, that's one of the biggest things that we want to see is more of our little brothers and little sisters. You know, when they go off and have their, they're in a position of stability that they can come back and mentor themselves.

And there is research to show that, um, you know, if a child sees the impact of mentoring, um, you know, they will, you know, they'll pay it forward, they will come back and mentor themselves. And that's something that we really are working towards is, um, is making sure our, our littles know that, hey, we want you to pay this forward. And that's a message that we send to those that are graduating from our program. We have a graduation ceremony every may at the state capitol. Hold on.

It's great. And um, and so that's one of their biggest messages to them. It's like we want you to come back and become a big, whether it's here or one of our other, um, know 200 and something affiliates throughout the country. Like we, you know, wherever life lands you, we want you to give it back, you know, give it,

Because I think oftentimes I learned more from being in that role than being mentored, which is kind of weird to say, but like it's just this dichotomy of BW beer. You're being seen as the expert, but being taught lessons in real time from, uh, the actual mentorship or, so what are you, what have you gotten feedback from your bigs as lessons they've learned? Okay.

Um, and, uh, and, and we've seen this happen so many times and then the match support specialist talks to the mom or the dad or one of the parents and the parents are like, oh my gosh, he or she is is a totally different person or they are, their character has changed so much and there's, they're just happier. Or they're doing this at, they used to not do before and the in the biggest usually like what? Like I had no idea.

And, um, just to hear those little, those little moments of like I made a difference. Um, you know, that can, that definitely built a person up to know that they're getting feedback from somebody else that says, you know, you are making a difference, um, in, in their lives. Uh, we like to celebrate, um, different milestones. So one of the things that we like to celebrate is we call it a matchaversery.

So if, if a match has been together for five years or more, um, we like to celebrate those moments. So, um, so that is something that we try to really instill with our mentor is about celebrating those little moments.

And that sometimes that's sometimes what we see a lot in, in, uh, in the pictures are in the activities are like, this was our first time, you know, going out for a hike or this was the first time that, um, you know, we went swimming or like we went, um, uh, what do we offer skiing. Some of our littles have never been skiing and the big is like, I love to ski and my little was willing to try something new with me and it was so much fun.

And so I just, um, you know, I'd like say that it's like all these like huge, like these big out adventures, but sometimes it's like the little moments. Then I think our bigs really cherish and value. Like, I had such a great time going out for ice cream

Um, you know, when they're, you know, 12 or something to be like, oh yeah, like, you know, he or she did this for me and, um, and say like, because of my mentor, I am now this different, you know, this person. Yeah. We do see it though with, um, I, I have a, a big brother, he's actually on our board who, um, who, who was a, a big brother to, uh, to this young man. He's now older. He's actually getting ready, he's engaged and getting ready to get married.

And, um, he would say stories about how his little brother, um, you know, wouldn't necessarily think in him or, you know, he wasn't exactly the most vocal person when it came to sharing emotions. They would play basketball and they had a great time. Um, but now that he is older, um, they've like, you know, they stayed in contact, but that now there are a little bit closer now that the little brother is about to get married. And he said to him, you know, you really made a difference in my life.

Like, I'm so thankful that you were in my life. Um, and I, I believe he got like his name tattooed somewhere. Like you got a tattoo and it included his look, his big brother's name. And when Dan, when he told me this, he likes started tearing up. He's like, I can't believe this. Like, like, you know, we were matched such long time ago and we've stayed in contact, but I never really knew if I made a difference in his life.

And it wasn't until, you know, the little brother is like well into his twenties where he is able to really say, you know, Dan, you know, all those times that we played basketball or I was in your car and we were driving and I didn't say anything. Like, all, you know, that really made a difference. And so

What were the mean to your crime rate? Where we're like, there's so many things of that.

And, um, and I think it's, it's important to remember that, you know, just because kids are facing adversity or you know, just they're not following a straight and narrow path, you know, they're still kids in the end. They still deserve, um, an investment. And so, um, yeah, if we were all able to see kids as an investment and not a burden, but definitely something that we all need to invest our energy towards, I think our kids would be a lot successful regardless of their income or background.

Um, I'll, I'll definitely, I'll all we need to defend all our kids.

That's partners other than her 14 or 16 years old that keeps popping up. Keep popping up. What if they had a big brother, big sister? What if they had someone that was influencing him and tell him, hey, you're on a path that's going to send you to prison for life. Like, like influenced them raw. So if you're asking those crude that question, like what if every child in Dade county had a big brother, a mentor, someone.

And if you're pointing fingers, perhaps you should turn that finger pointer finger a thumb and think about what you should be doing. So, so in thinking about that, a one final question for you, because you're a parent. I have a, I run a business and for young kids, seven, five, three and one. Um, so there might be people listening.

Um, most people think, my wife and I are crazy for having four kids as it is, but there might be some others thinking that have one kid, two kids or whatever, that they may not have time for this. Like, so what would you say to someone that has that thought? Cause that's a thought. I have certain my hat.

Um, you know, the other thing is in order for us to be able to make these meaningful mentoring relationships, um, it does require an, an, you know, a financial investment. So we are a nonprofit, um, to be able to make these quality, um, long lasting matches. And so, um, you know, this year we're, we're, we're going to serve about 650 kids, but we want to grow that. We know, yeah, we have a waitlist. We want to be able to support, not just make a match, but like we want to keep them together.

You know, we want to make sure, I'd love to see all of our kids that are matched that graduate from our program. And depending on what age they're ads, I mean, that could be, um, you know, if you start at six and you graduate from a program at eight 18, that's 12 years, 12 years of support from us to make sure that parents and the little and the big have all the resources they need to make this relationship work and for everybody to see the good of what mentoring does.

And so, um, as a nonprofit organization, you know, we, we raise money annually, you know, we start from zero. Um, and so everything that we raise is, is privately raised by us. Yeah. Um, and so, um, you know, so we, we have to rely on the community to be able to make these mentoring relationships. So we have a couple, um, we have a bowl-a-thon in the spring. We have a big gala in the summer.

So, um, there's definitely ways to participate as, you know, as a donor, as an investor, to make sure that we make more mentoring relationships. We have committees to support both events. Um, so if anybody's look, if anybody loves event planning or, um, different, you know, uh, you know, having to do with recruiting, um, items for our silent or live auction. And we know we're always looking for those connections. Sometimes those connections are the most meaningful for us.

We value between our, um, our, obviously between our bigs and littles. We value those relationships, but we also value the relationships that we have with businesses and with community members that, um, you know, might know somebody or, or give us that connection to make our events, uh, even more successful.

And so, and every month you get to find out about the mentoring relationship that you help make that month, that month. But that's our matchmaker program and all that. Really, all that information is on our website as well.

Um, uh, and, and for us, you know, we have a recruitment specialist that is dedicated to going out to different businesses and, and really, um, helping facilitate that opportunity for employees to get to know our program and know that they can make a difference. And if the employer is supportive of it, whether it's paying them to volunteer or just giving them the flexibility to, hey, we want you to do this, um, you know, leaving work a little bit early or during the lunch hour.

Um, just having a culture of giving back to the community I think is important. And if employers can offer that, um, you know, I think we would be the perfect program where, um, not only are they making a difference in one person's life, but we are there to support the volunteer as well. So they don't seem like they're just off on their own mentoring a child and, you know, not knowing what to do.

And that's one of the things, common things we find with, with adults is like, what do I do with a child? You know? Um, but we're there to support and do that along the way. So, um, so again, we're very flexible. Um, we're definitely here to work with different employers, um, in hopes of recruiting more, more big brothers and big sisters.

You can call our office, which is six zero eight, six six one five four three seven. You will speak with Sarah, why talk and she's our receptionist and our cost of customer relations specialist and she is the one that will answer any more in depth questions, um, and also be able to provide an application to you to fill out and you can receive that electronically as well. And then we'll, we'll go from there.

Do you remember reading my side of the mountain while that kid that, um, so it's like in, I think it was like, I'm not, I don't know if it was New York state, but I read this was in fifth grade and so it was like one of my favorite books because I always thought it was me because it wasn't about an only child, but it's a boy. Um, who, who basically he kind of runs away from home. Um, but he goes out into the mountains or do you remember?

And he basically like fends for himself and like feeds off like the forest and the mountains and like just manages the, just manages to become independent and like face all his fears. And so I don't know, I identify with that book because I was like, oh, that would have been like, I always thought it, the adventure is the way it was positioned. The book was positioned was like adventurous and I always thought like, oh, that'd be so cool to go off into a foreign away from home, run away from.

But I just remember that book. But no thanks for the blast from the past, but I'm actually a really a book. Actually I'm going to throw a kid's book in that I really enjoy right now with my, actually my daughter was the one who wanted this book, the book with no pictures. Have you read that? Oh you should really, oh, I forgot. What is his name? He's, he used to be on the office. Um, he was the intern from the office. I forgot what his name was. The yeah. Broke character name or camera.

Yeah, but it's called the book with no pictures. And um, if you didn't know very Bj Novak is one of the producers on the office as well or just your handy having the iPad in front of me. Yeah. So if you get the book with no pictures, it's a really, it's like one of those books, like every time we read it it's just like we have a great laugh. So you should get that. You're up. I can read to the kids. Yeah.